By Agnes M. Tarr, Legislative Reporter
The plenary of the House of Representatives has ordered it’s committee on Banking and Currency to investigate all matters surrounding the total monies left in the covers of the government.
The plenary’s decision was against the backdrop of conflicting figures reported by the outgoing former President George Weah and President Josep Boakai. President Weah claimed his government left US$40m in the consolidated account, but President Boakai, it was only UD$20.5m.
During a regular session recently, a motion was entertained to have the House’s committee on Banking and Currency to head the investigation was. The motion was proffered by Montserrado County District #16 Representative Dixon Seboe.
Is his motion, Rep. Seboe stated that the amount of US $20.5 million being reported by President Joseph Boakai while delivering his State of the Nation Address was not supported by facts, and as such there’s a need for proper facts checking.
Recently, President Joseph Boakai, while delivering his first State of the Nation Address, told members of the Legislature that there was no US$40 Million in the GOL account as was reported by the Weah’s regime.
“The report of US$40 Million at the Government’s consolidated account balance as of January 19, 2024 is not supported by the fact,” President exclaimed, adding, “The balance reported by the Central Bank of Liberia as of the same date was US$20.5 million, highly encumbered, not US$40 Million,”
It was based upon this, the House’s plenary ordered the appearance of the National Bank Governor, Aloysius Tarlue, before that august body to provide clarity on what they termed as ‘controversies’ surrounding US$40 and US$20.5 Million claimed made by the former and current presidents.
During the appearance of the Central Bank Governor before Senate, he explained that as of January 19, there were over $2.4B Liberian Dollar in the consolidated account as well as more than US$27M, as per the approved prevailing rate of US$1 to L$188.36.
The Bank Governor’s account indicated clearly that there was a total amount of US$40 Million in the government’s consolidated account as of January 19, 2024.
Meanwhile the committee on Banking and Currency is expected to work with the CBL and the transitional team and to report to plenary on Tuesday, February 6, with a clear picture of the facts.
